Databricks Partners with EDB and IMDA to Support Singapore’s National AI Strategy

• Partners with IMDA, NTU, NUS, and SMU to equip 20,000 people with data and AI skills, including Lakebase and Genie.
• Launches the Databricks Singapore Startup AI Accelerator to help 100+ early-stage companies build AI-native products and accelerate their path to market.
• Expands local technical teams, including Forward Deployed Engineers, to more than 200 people, working with EDB to enable enterprises to move AI apps and agents from pilot to production.

SINGAPORE - September 16, 2026 - Databricks, the Data and AI company, today announced new AI programmes for startups and enterprises alongside an initiative to train 20,000 people in data and AI skills. These initiatives are part of Databricks' investment of more than US$350 million in Singapore over the next three years, in support of Singapore's National AI Strategy. The announcement was made at the Databricks Data + AI World Tour Singapore, where Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information, was Guest-of-Honour.

While regional AI spending continues to grow, more than half of Southeast Asian companies remain stuck in the experimentation phase due to fragmented data infrastructure and talent shortages. Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Databricks will address these challenges across three priorities: developing AI-ready talent, helping startups build AI-native businesses, and enabling more enterprises to move AI into production.

Developing Singapore's AI Workforce: Training 20,000 in Data + AI
Databricks will train 20,000 more people in data and AI skills in Singapore over the next three years, building on the 10,000 on track to be trained by 2027. As part of its partnership with IMDA, Databricks is working with local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to expand access to industry-relevant data and AI skills.

For the first time, Databricks training and industry-recognised certifications will be integrated into undergraduate and graduate curricula, starting with Singapore Management University (SMU). Participants will develop skills in areas including data engineering, analytics, generative AI, AI agents, application development and AI governance using the Databricks Data + AI Platform. This includes capabilities such as Lakebase, Genie and Unity Gateway, which give enterprise AI agents the context, control, model choice and cost optimisation needed to operate reliably at scale.

Databricks will also collaborate with Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and SMU on a nationwide, cross-university hackathon. Students will develop AI solutions to real-world challenges, receive mentorship from industry practitioners and connect with prospective employers. In addition, participating startups and enterprises will have access to training and certification through Databricks Academy, supporting broader workforce upskilling and AI adoption.

Helping More Than 100 Singapore Startups Build AI-Native Businesses
The Databricks Singapore Startup AI Accelerator is a four-month product development initiative designed to help high-potential early-stage companies build AI-ready businesses and accelerate their path to product-market fit. The programme will launch in November with an initial cohort of 10 startups and will scale to support more than 100 startups over the next three years.

Participating startups will receive the following from Databricks:

• Platform and technical expertise: Hands-on support across the AI stack, from building trusted data foundations to developing production AI applications and agents.
• Training and certification: Tailored workshops, enablement and certification through Databricks Academy¹ to strengthen each team's technical capabilities.
• Databricks credits: Up to US$200,000 in combined Databricks and Neon² credits for each participating company to accelerate development.
• Capital and market connectivity: Opportunities to connect with enterprises, venture capital firms and investors to support funding, partnerships and commercial growth.

Moving Enterprise AI From Pilot to Production
Databricks will expand its dedicated team of Forward Deployed Engineers and technical specialists in Singapore to more than 200 roles in the next three years, helping Singapore-based enterprises to leverage AI to solve their most important business challenges. With EDB's support, the Enterprise AI Transformation programme provides participating companies across key sectors of Singapore's economy, including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and connectivity, with a Databricks-sponsored Forward Deployed Engineer to identify high-value AI use cases, build and deploy them securely with local partners, and establish an operating model needed to scale future AI initiatives independently.

Executive Quotes
"Singapore is entering the next phase of its AI transformation. As our APJ headquarters, it will play a central role in how we scale across the region. That means investing across the entire ecosystem: helping startups become AI-native from day one, enabling enterprises to move their most important AI use cases into production, and developing the workforce capability required to scale AI responsibly. It's why we believe Singapore is one of the world's leading markets for enterprise AI, not just where we operate but where we're building for the long term," said Simon Davies, SVP and GM, Databricks APJ.

"Singapore is focused on translating AI ambitions into real-world outcomes by enabling companies to deploy AI responsibly, and at scale. Achieving this requires deep technical capabilities, an AI-ready workforce, and partners committed to building and innovating here. Databricks' expanded investment reflects this shared commitment, and we look forward to working with them and our broader ecosystem partners to strengthen Singapore's position as a global hub for AI innovation and enterprise adoption," said Beng Kong Pee, Executive Vice President, EDB.

About Databricks
Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 20,000 organizations worldwide - including adidas, AT&T, Bayer, Block, Mastercard, Rivian, Unilever and 70% of the Fortune 500 - rely on the Databricks Data + AI Platform to unify their data, analytics and AI. Built on an open source foundation, the platform gives teams a simple way to build AI that understands their business context. The platform includes the products Lakebase, Genie, Unity Gateway, Agent Bricks, Lakeflow, Lakehouse and Unity Catalog. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram.

¹ Databricks Academy is an online training and educational platform provided by Databricks. It helps users learn data engineering, machine learning, generative AI, and data governance through self-paced courses, hands-on labs, and certification learning plans.
² Neon is a leading serverless Postgres company that Databricks has acquired in May 2026.